Below is the link to Pat’s podcast.

https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftraffic.libsyn.com%2Fforcedn%2Fcdogg%2FS06E01.mp3&data=05%7C02%7C%7Cfbc14772508b4c00ae7b08de02c58744%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638951244563193267%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=t3oGGuk0SXXoj%2FazYPhfhv2AKRIO2DjbQHaBub2IfuU%3D&reserved=0

Coach Patterson auto biography is below -With resolve and strength of will, Coach Patterson was instrumental in moving Texas swimming to an era of prominence.

From Eugene Watson- “Wow, what an incredible posting of one of the most important figure in the history of of the development of “swimming” competition in the state of Texas. Personally, I got my first three years of participating in coaching high school swimming, at UT with Coach Pat. I had just returned home from three years in the Army in 1970, moved to Austin, and Pat allowed me to work many of the state high school, and college meets.

Over the years, after my 27 years of high school coaching, I owe Pat ALL of my gratitude for taking me under his “wing” and giving me his undying support. ONE OF A KIND GUY and a friend, even today; 10-2025″ Eugene Watson

Melvin R. “Pat” Patterson was a pioneering figure in Texas swimming, both as an athlete and coach, with a legacy that spans high school, collegiate, and club levels.
Here’s a deeper look at his impact:

• Three year letterman and UT Team Captain (1955): Patterson arrived at the University of Texas with no prior competitive swimming experience, yet became the first Longhorn to break 50 seconds in the 100-yard freestyle. 
• One of the leading scorers at the 1955 SWC championship meet.
• Texas Head Coach (7 Seasons): During his tenure, he led the Longhorns to 21 Southwest Conference Championships and coached 12 All-Americans.
• Multi-School Coaching Career: He also coached at Texas A&M, Rice, and Arkansas, and elevated the Dad’s Club in Houston to national prominence in the late 1950s.
• Spring Branch ISD Innovator: Patterson founded the district’s swim programs and guided Memorial High School to multiple state titles.
•  UT Swim Center: He played a key role in the design and construction of the University of Texas Swim Center, a cornerstone of UT’s aquatic excellence.
• Educational Leadership: After coaching, Patterson transitioned into school administration, serving as principal and superintendent at Westlake High School and later at Sweeny High School.
  Family and Legacy
• Patterson and his wife, Jane, were deeply involved in Texas swimming and education. Jane was also inducted into the Texas Swimming Hall of Fame and coached multiple sports across Texas.
  Pat Patterson’s story is one of transformation, leadership, and enduring influence—from breaking barriers in the pool to building institutions that shaped generations of athletes and students.
• Hall of Honor inductee 2010 
• During his seven seasons as a head coach at Texas, he produced 21 SWC Champions and 12 All-Americans
• Was instrumental in the formation and development of the University of Texas’s first women’s Swimming team.
• With design direction from Coach Patterson, the dream of a new state-of-the-art swimming facility is close to reality

Coach Pat Patterson 1971-1977

Pat Patterson is the right leader at the right time, as Coach Patterson struggles to convince the UT administration to increase coaching salaries, travel expenses, and scholarships, and upgrade the swimming facilities. 

THE PAT PATTERSON TRUE STORY

Almost a secret until this letter to the Longhorn Hall of Honor selections committee.

Rooster Andrews and Wally Pryor were also on the cc list for the letter below from Tex Robertson. This letter represents a historic moment for the Longhorn swimming program, so I retyped it in a readable, larger font.

From the Honorable Johnny Crawford  Longhorn T Men President

March 10, 2000

Dear Crawf,

Greetings and love to Jerry, you, and Charley (2nd place ain’t bad.)

We’ve delayed recognizing Pat Patterson in the Hall of Honor for too long. In my 65 years of U.T. ism and wet-mindedness, I think Pat is the most deserving of all the past Honorees. Certainly me, even Skippy, and fabulous Coach Eddie, who wouldn’t be with us except for Coach Pat.

Melvin R. “Pat” Patterson had an impressive swimming record. He was a U.T. swimming letterman for three years, 1954-1956. He was one of the top point-getters in 1955 in beating SMU’s early string of Southwest Conference championships. He was elected Captain of the 1956 Longhorn team, which placed second in the S.W.C. Besides that, Pat deserves a place in the Hall for his pick of a bride, Jane Knelp, a nationally ranked swimmer and by far the best female swimmer to attend U.T. during the first ¾ of the 20th century. They were married in 1955 while both were seniors at U.T.

After graduation, Pat continued swimming by starting and coaching the Dads Club Swimming Team of Houston, which became one of the nation’s best age-group teams. Dads Club was the best in the TAGS, an organization that claimed Coach Pat Patterson as its first President.

Pat moved up from the Dad’s Club to the College level as lead swim coach at Rice in 1961. Then to Arkansas with their fancy new pool as their Head Coach ii 1965. For those quick college successes, A&M got him back to Texas as the Head swim and water polo coach in 1968.

In the spring of 1960, after SMU won the S.W.C., Regent’s Chairman Frank Erwin refused to go ahead with plans for the new swimming center unless Texas won an S.W.C. swimming title or got a new coach.  In September 1970, U.T. President Mickey Lem and Athletic Coordinator Stan Burnham traveled to College Station and negotiated a release from A&M for Coach Melvin “Pat” Patterson.

Coach Pat was welcomed back to U.T. with great enthusiasm from the swim team, his former teammates, and his old coach, Hank Chapman, who had been promoted to Director of P.E. Aquatics. Pat knew the expectations and gigantic task of returning Texas to the top of the S.W.C.  He was not only daunted by SMU’s monopoly of the state’s best swimmers and their 15 straight S.W.C. championships but his inherited team was short in number and talent. Scholarships were half that of S.M.U and A&M. And half his pay and responsibility was teaching P.E. swim classes, a real detriment to the great need of recruiting.  Pat spent seven of his eight years of Texas Coaching in the Gregory Gym pool while the swimming center was under construction, according to his designs. Frank Irwin often said the new pool is everything Coach Patterson could wish for and more.

Pat Was U.T.’s first women’s official Sports Coach when several coed swimmers asked U.T. President Lorene Rogers if they could have a team under title Nine. Women’s P.E. Director Betty Thompson asked Pat if he would coach them at Gregory for a start during the 1973 fall semester. 

Pat’s persuasion paid off in adding an essential and famous diving Coach to his staff with little or no pay. First, it was former Olympic Champion, Bob Clotworthy who didn’t get along with campus officials. Then it was Mike Brown, a former N.C.A.A. I meter springboard champion who was a huge success and became both men’s and women’s diving coach.

Pad had some great teams that beat the Aggies every year and were 2nd in the SWC each year. His spirited Longhorns improved, but so did SMU with their extra scholarship recruits.  Pat produced 21 SWC champions and 12 All-Americans

Now, here is the part of Pat Patterson Longhorn’s contributions that sets him apart from all of us old Hall of Honor recipients.

After eight years of suggesting, asking, and pleading for adequate program support for Coach and diving coach pay and scholarships equal to that of SMU, A&M, or any of the top NCAA programs,  Pat advised U.T. officials that he was resigning.  He told them that with proper financial support and a new coach, U.T. would regain the SWC title and win the N.C.A.A.

The entire Longhorn team was disappointed, and the exes were shocked that their pride and joy, the hardworking and successful Coach, would resign without notice and leave his world’s best pool and a lifetime job.  WETS president Wally Pryor immediately called for an unofficial Coaches search committee along with WETS’ other Director, Dr. Hyl Karbacgm, Tex Robertson, Jose Gilbert, and Coach Pat Patterson. U.T. officials had to consider the recommendation, which was U.T.’s Dr. Ron Brown, V.P. for Student Affairs, and women’s Athletic Director Donna Lopiano, who was looking for a new swim coach. Men’s Athletic Director Darrell Royal was invited but was unable to attend.

Each of the committees had a shortlist; all, including the SMU Coach, had been contacted. All but Pat, who was familiar with the National scene, listed his five recommendations. The committee voted to ask Dr. Brown to go for Pat’s top two, Eddie Reese of Auburn for the men, and Paul Bergen, Cincinnati Age Group Coach for the women.

Donna contacted and hired Paul Bergen for the week, and after a few weeks of negotiation, Darrell Royal hired Eddie Reese. Both coaches, with great U.T. support, recruited with the great swim center, and in the third year, 1981, both teams won their National Championships. We all know the rest of the continued story. 

Pat was good for swimming, Texas, and his swimmers and divers.  I’ve always been impressed by how our three Longhorns, Rob, Nan, and Bill, matured under Pat’s coaching. Their swimming improved, but so did their attitude, confidence, and willingness to work.

After leaving U.T. in 1979, Pat got a job immediately with ??? School District as a Jr. High Principal earning much more than his U.T. income. He moved up from High School Principal to assistant superintendent until 1986. Moved to Sweeny as Superintendent and retired in 1990.

The Pattersons have four grown children, David, Wendy, Christi, and Patrick. All involved in coaching and teaching. Pat and Jane are retired, living in Sweeny, Texas. Jane is involved almost full-time in church work, while Pat plays golf two or three days a week and earns money as a fishing guide in the Gulf or on private lakes.

Path and Jane are both winners of the Frank Erwin Award. Texas Swimming’s top honor. 

Best Wishes

Tex Robertson

c.c. to Coach David McWilliams

Tex was the first very successful coach and tried to run the swimming portion, but Darrell would not let him. Pat Patterson came in 1970 as an Assistant Professor and taught three three-hour classes and five Physical Education Classes. He raised $1,000 for the swim team during his years as the swim coach, with only three scholarships to offer; most other schools had as many as 20. One year, we won 14 of the 18 events and still lost by 110 pts. Every time he went to Darrell, he refused.

After three years, he asked Royal, “Who’s above you?” He said, Frank Erwin. Frank turned the three scholarships into $15,000. That’s why the Swimming Award is called the Frank Erwin Award. After the budget hearing one year, there was $3 million left. Frank said we have had a new swimming pool on the books since 1954. Let’s do that.

Lex Ackers designed the Joe Jamil pool. It opened in 1977 with much student protest as the added-on projects cost over $7 million. Patterson knew the pool would be a big draw in recruiting. So he asked for more scholarships, and when Darrell turned him down again, he knew it was never going to happen while he was the swim coach, so he resigned and was hired as the Principal of Westlake. By the time they hired Eddie, the number of football scholarships had been reduced, and Eddie received an increase of 14 scholarships. Eddie was very successful in recruiting the best. My relationship with Eddie and his family was awesome. We hunted and fished. Racketball and church together. 

 

 

Coach Patterson’s influence from 1972-1978 in photo format